氷点下(ひょうてんか)

ひょうてんか
noun
below freezing; below zero
1. below freezing; below zero (Celsius)
Temperature below 0°C, the freezing point of water.
今朝(けさ)は氷点下(ひょうてんか)だった。
It was below freezing this morning.
気温(きおん)は氷点下(ひょうてんか)10度(じゅうど)まで下(さ)がった。
The temperature dropped to minus 10 degrees.
氷点下(ひょうてんか)の厳(きび)しい寒(さむ)さの中(なか)を歩(ある)いた。
I walked through the severe cold of sub-zero temperatures.

氷点下(ひょうてんか) means below freezing, i.e., below 0°C. It is commonly used in weather reports and daily conversation during winter.

WORD FORMATION:
氷点(ひょうてん) (freezing point) + 下(か) (below)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 氷点下(ひょうてんか)〜度(ど): minus ~ degrees (e.g., 氷点下(ひょうてんか)5度(ごど) = minus 5°C)
  • 氷点下(ひょうてんか)になる: to drop below freezing
  • 氷点下(ひょうてんか)の寒(さむ)さ: sub-zero cold

RELATED WORDS:

  • 氷点(ひょうてん): freezing point (0°C)
  • 零下(れいか): below zero (synonym, also used in weather)
  • 凍結(とうけつ): freezing (of roads, pipes, etc.)
  • 真冬(まふゆ): midwinter

NOTE:
In Japan, 氷点下(ひょうてんか) always refers to Celsius. Regions like 北海道(ほっかいどう) regularly experience 氷点下(ひょうてんか) temperatures in winter.

general
Added 2026.1.20 23:05 · Revised 2026.3.26 22:07
07500/07669_hyoutenka